Why I love this cranberry margarita recipe
The holiday season is the perfect time to shake things up with this festive cranberry margarita cocktail.
It brings together the tartness of cranberries, the smooth kick of tequila, and the citrusy notes of triple sec to create a totally refreshing and tasty drink that everyone loves!
Then there’s the color that’s the perfect vibrant red hue for a holiday bash.
And whether you’re making a single serving or a big batch for a crowd, it’s super easy to make.
More delicious Christmas cocktail recipes
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 1 cranberry margarita):
- Alcohol – 2 ounces silver tequila, 1 ounce triple sec. Use a good-quality silver (blanco) tequila for the best flavor. The smoothness of the tequila really matters in a cocktail like this. I like Patron.
- Fresh produce – 1 lime
- Juice – 1 ounce cranberry juice. For a slightly more tart flavor, use unsweetened cranberry juice. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, opt for sweetened cranberry juice or adjust the simple syrup to taste.
- Sweetener – ½ ounce simple syrup. You can use the store-bought variety. Or make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan. Heat until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool before using.
- Ice
- Garnish – Coarse salt (for rimming the glass), lime slices, fresh cranberries – These are optional but do add to the festive look of the drink.
Substitutions & Additions
- You can use Cointreau instead of Triple Sec for a similar orange flavor.
- For a wintry look, use white cranberry juice instead of the standard variety.
- You can use bottled lime juice instead of freshly-squeezed juice if that’s what you have on hand.
Variations
- For a bubbly twist, top off your margarita with a splash of club soda or sparkling water after pouring it into the glass.
- If you prefer a frozen margarita, blend all ingredients with ice instead of shaking. This will give you a frosty, slush-like texture.
- Replace the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice for a slightly different flavor while keeping the holiday theme. Adjust the sweetness if needed, as pomegranate juice tends to be less tart than cranberry.
How to make a cranberry margarita
1 | Prep work
Begin by juicing the lime.
To get the most juice out of your lime, roll it on the countertop with your palm while applying gentle pressure. This helps break down the internal membranes, making it easier to extract juice.
Once rolled, cut the lime in half and use a citrus juicer or reamer to extract the juice. If you don’t have a juicer, simply squeeze the lime halves over a bowl, using a fork to help release more juice.
2 | Rim the glass
To rim your glass with salt, first pour enough coarse salt onto a small plate to cover the bottom of it. The plate should be big enough for the entire rim of the glass to fit on it.
Then run a lime wedge around the rim to moisten it. This will help the salt stick.
Finally, gently dip the moistened rim of the glass into the salt.
3 | Mix the cocktail
In a cocktail shaker, combine the silver tequila, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and a handful of ice.
Shake the mixture vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds.
Strain the margarita into the prepared glass.
Use a cocktail strainer or the lid of your shaker to hold back the ice as you pour.
I don’t usually put ice in the glass since it waters down the drink. But you can some to the glass before you pour, if you want to.
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a large jar with a tight-fitting lid.4 | Garnish
Add a festive touch by garnishing your margarita with a lime slice and a few cranberries.
Cut the lime slices very thin. Then make a slit half way through the slice so that it will stay on the edge of the glass.
Then float a few fresh cranberries in the drink.
If you want to add even more flavor and color, freeze cranberries ahead of time to use as a natural ice cube substitute. As they melt, they will add more red color and cranberry flavor to the cocktail.
How to make a big batch
To make a big batch of this recipe:
- Mix 3 cups silver tequila, 1½ cups triple sec, 1½ cups lime juice, 1½ cups cranberry juice and ¾ cup simple syrup in a large pitcher. Do not add ice at this point.
- Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Garnish the glasses and add ice. Then pour and enjoy!
This will make enough for about 12 cocktails, depending on how full you fill each glass.
How to make ahead
To prepare the Cranberry Margarita ahead of time, mix the silver tequila, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice, and simple syrup in a large pitcher.
Do not add ice at this stage.
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Rim the glasses with lime and salt just before serving.
When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice, pour the pre-mixed margarita over the ice, and garnish with lime slices and cranberries as desired.
Frequently asked questions
What type of tequila works best for a Cranberry Margarita?
A blanco or silver tequila is ideal for a Cranberry Margarita as it has a clean, crisp flavor that complements the cranberry and lime juices well. I like Patron silver.
How can I make a non-alcoholic version of the Cranberry Margarita?
To make a non-alcoholic version, eliminate the the tequila and replace the triple sec with orange juice. Top up with a little extra cranberry juice to fill the glass.
Cranberry Margarita
Ingredients
- Coarse salt
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
Equipment
- low ball glass
- small plate or saucer for rimming the glass
- cocktail shaker
- jigger
Instructions
- Rim a glass with a lime wedge, then dip it in coarse salt to coat the rim.Coarse salt
- In a cocktail shaker, add the silver tequila, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well for 10-15 seconds.2 ounces silver tequila
, 1 ounce triple sec
, 1 ounce lime juice
, 1 ounce cranberry juice
, ½ ounce simple syrup
, Ice - Strain the margarita into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lime slice and a few cranberries for a festive touch, if desired.
Notes
- For the best taste, use a good-quality silver (blanco) tequila (such as Patron). The smoothness of the tequila really matters in a cocktail like this.
- For a wintry looking drink, use white cranberry juice instead of the regular version.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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